Virtu Financial LLC Invests $206,000 in Strategic Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:STRA)

Virtu Financial LLC purchased a new position in Strategic Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:STRA) during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm purchased 2,226 shares of the health services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $206,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans lifted its stake in Strategic Education by 19.7% in the 3rd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 43,755 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $4,050,000 after purchasing an additional 7,203 shares in the last quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in Strategic Education during the third quarter worth approximately $702,000. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in Strategic Education by 7.0% during the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 313,727 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $29,035,000 after buying an additional 20,389 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in Strategic Education by 7.4% in the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 369,728 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $40,914,000 after buying an additional 25,455 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Beck Bode LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Strategic Education in the 2nd quarter worth $1,028,000. 93.27% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Barrington Research reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $135.00 price target on shares of Strategic Education in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. Truist Financial dropped their price target on shares of Strategic Education from $145.00 to $120.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of Strategic Education from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, October 5th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $126.00.

Strategic Education Stock Performance

NASDAQ:STRA opened at $95.29 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.34 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.15, a PEG ratio of 1.38 and a beta of 0.59. Strategic Education, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $85.11 and a fifty-two week high of $123.62. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $94.18 and a 200 day moving average price of $99.43.

Strategic Education (NASDAQ:STRA) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 7th. The health services provider reported $1.16 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.81 by $0.35. The business had revenue of $305.96 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $301.62 million. Strategic Education had a net margin of 10.44% and a return on equity of 7.61%. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 7.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.97 earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that Strategic Education, Inc. will post 4.79 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Strategic Education Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 9th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 2nd were given a dividend of $0.60 per share. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.52%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 2nd. Strategic Education’s dividend payout ratio is currently 45.71%.

Strategic Education Profile

Strategic Education, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides education services through campus-based and online post-secondary education, and programs to develop job-ready skills. The company operates through U.S. Higher Education, Australia/New Zealand, and Education Technology Services segments. It operates Strayer University that offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in business, criminal justice, education, health services, information technology, and public administration at physical campuses located in the eastern United States, as well as through online; non-degree web and mobile application development courses through Hackbright Academy and Devmountain; and MBA online through its Jack Welch Management Institute.